Optus Stadium to host Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Japan next year

Perth will host Australian men’s soccer team the Socceroos next year when they take on Japan as part of their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign.

The match will be Australia’s final home fixture in the Round Three Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Qualifiers – Road To 26 Qualification campaign, and could be crucial in Socceroos’ chances of progressing to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The WA Government is hopeful the match will attract plenty of out-of-state interest, with Japan being WA’s ninth biggest visitor market.

It’s also easier than ever to get here from Japan with All Nippon Airways offering direct flights from Tokyo three times a week.

“Football has grown in popularity exponentially in Western Australia in the past two years, and hosting a match that could be critical to the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign is sure to keep that momentum going,” said Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman.

The Socceroos also take on fellow Group C competitors Bahrain, China PR, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia as part of Round Three, with the top to nations going directly to the FIFA World Cup.

If they end up in third or fourth place, they move onto Round Four.

“Excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is already building,” said said WA Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti, “and we’re expecting this Round Three qualifier to capitalise on that hype, bringing over a thousand Socceroos and Japan fans to cheer on their teams as they go head-to-head at Optus Stadium for the chance to directly qualify for the World Cup.”

2025 is shaping up to be a huge year of major sporting events in Perth and WA, including the upcoming HSBC SVNS in January, an NRL doubleheader, State of Origin, the Bledisloe Cup and the first Ashes test next summer.

Tickets for the Socceroos vs Japan go on sale on this Wednesday 18 December at 10am AWST via ticketek.com.au.